Travis Fuller, right, and his son Preston display a sign with a plea for a kidney at the ...more

Travis Fuller, right, and his son Preston display a sign with a plea for a kidney at the Tennessee-Vanderbilt football game. The social media post with this photo went viral.

Fuller family photo

The 45-year-old Fuller, a native of Chattanooga who has lived in Powell with his family for the past five years, won’t allow himself to become melancholy over his plight caused by a hereditary disease.

“I watch and read the news, there’s so much violence and negativity in the world,” Fuller said. “I’ve learned, over the years, that people are innately good. In spite of all the evil in the world, it’s easy for me to be positive.”

A high-quality blessing

Travis grew up as an exceptional athlete: Quarterback for the high school football team, as well as a standout in basketball and baseball.

In the back of his mind, he always knew that a serious health problem could be lurking in his future. Several family members had been afflicted by FSGS, a rare disease that causes renal problems. In other words, kidney issues seemed to be a distinct possibility.

Among other family members, there had been 12 kidney transplants. Travis was the youngest. All available healthy kidneys within the family had already been donated.

Travis Fuller has some company with his dog Chobani during a recent dialysis treatment.

Travis Fuller has some company with his dog Chobani during a recent dialysis treatment.

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Travis, who started dialysis for the first time in 1995, was the (unlucky) 13th, getting his first transplant from a deceased (non-relative) donor in 1998.

“I got over 18 years of a high-quality life from that transplant,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been blessed.”

Time for another chapter

It’s time for another transplant.

Travis, his wife of five years, Mitzi, and their “Brady Bunch blended family” of Dustin (27), Dawson (20), Kaimen (16), Preston (14) and Parker (10) are living with the reality that it’s time for another gift of life.

Travis and Mitzi Fuller of Powell have learned to appreciate the good times.

Travis and Mitzi Fuller of Powell have learned to appreciate the good times.

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That’s why Travis spends every weekday hooked up to a dialysis machine cleaning his blood while avoiding disease, waiting for the next miracle to happen.

“Getting those big needles in at the start hurts (the one minute of pain),” Travis said of the process. “After that, I just sit (for four hours). That part is hard for me.

“When I’m done (filtering between 81-90 liters of blood), it’s like I’ve run a four-hour sit-down marathon. It takes me 30-45 minutes to get my feet back under me.”

It's a special time when Travis and Mitzi Fuller can get their entire family together.

It's a special time when Travis and Mitzi Fuller can get their entire family together.

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Then he’s able to go about his life of working as a real estate developer and getting kids where they need to be – as well as Mitzi’s honey-do list.

A more permanent solution

In the quest to find another compatible O-positive (blood type) donor, Travis’ plea went viral – thanks to Preston.

The inspiration came from a news article about a girl in Pittsburgh who displayed a sign at a hockey game.

Travis and Preston attended the University of Tennessee football game at Vanderbilt a couple weeks ago. Preston held a large sign announcing his father’s need. Photos were taken and were shared on social media. Preston and his sign were featured on the stadium Jumbotron. Strangers from all over the stadium – both UT and Vandy fans – approached the two with well wishes.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” Travis said. “I’ve heard that at least 20 people were going to the University of Tennessee to check if they were a match.”

Until then ...

Until the day of “the call” comes, Travis will rely on the foundation of his faith and family to get him through the toughest of days.